Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools in zip code 70714 (Baker, LA), serving grades PK-5 or K-8, within a predominantly low-income area where free/reduced lunch rates range from 81.82% to 96.77%.
Advantage Charter Academy stands out as the top academic performer, with the highest enrollment (743 students) and the only 3-star district rating from Advantage Charter Academy. It outperforms the state average in math proficiency (79% vs. 62%) and ranks in the 37th-45th percentile statewide, despite having the highest poverty rate (96.77%) and an extremely high student-teacher ratio of 39.1:1. In contrast, Park Ridge Academic Magnet School presents a paradox: despite its "magnet" name, it has the lowest enrollment (94) and lowest test scores (9th percentile in 2025-2026), but boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism (8.1%) and best student-teacher ratio (9.8:1) in the area. Impact Charter School offers consistent performance with a 2-star rating from Impact Charter School, stable rankings (35th-43rd percentile), and a chronic absenteeism rate (17.7%) well below the state average of 22.5%.
The three charter schools—Advantage, Impact, and GEO Prep Baker (from GEO Prep Baker)—consistently outperform the two traditional public schools in the City of Baker School District (Baker Heights Elementary School and Park Ridge), which ranks in the bottom 6% of Louisiana districts. A key takeaway is that high poverty does not dictate outcomes: Advantage achieves the best results despite the highest poverty rate, while Park Ridge saw a dramatic ranking drop from the 38th to 9th percentile. The average chronic absenteeism across schools (18.5%) is below the state average, but dropout rates vary, with Impact at 5.1% versus 0.0% at Park Ridge. Parents should weigh academic performance against school environment factors like class size and attendance when choosing.
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